Films

Zoe Hopkins’ Family-Adventure Drama, ‘KAYAK TO KLEMTU’ Heads to Cannes Film Festival Marché du Film [Trailer]

Canadian Heiltsuk/Mohawk filmmaker Zoe Hopkins’ family adventure, ‘Kayak to Klemtu’ is a story about a grieving family who kayaks to the island of Klemtu, only to find that true adventure is with each other. Directed by Zoe Hopkins (‘Mohawk Midnight Runners’) and co-written by Hopkins and Michael Sparaga (‘Servitude’), ‘Kayak to Klemtu’ follows 14-year-old Ella (Ta’kaiya Blaney) on her journey to fulfill her Uncle David’s (Evan Adams) dying wish – to kayak to the remote island of Klemtu and to stand and testify to protect their ancestral land from an oil pipeline. To honor her Uncle’s memory and fulfill his dying wish, Ella makes it her mission to kayak from Tai’Amin to Klemtu, where she can lay her Uncle to rest at his home and stand in his place to defend their beloved homeland waters. Ella’s strong, youthful self is prepared for the hardships of kayaking down the currents of the Inside Passage and braving the wildlife of B.C.’s stunning Great Bear Rainforest that will surround her. But, Ella’s biggest challenge will be with who accompanies her on the adventure – her other grouchy Uncle Don (Lorne Cardinal), her compulsive and recently widowed Aunt Cory (Sonja Bennett), and her Uncle Dave’s clumsy stepson, Alex (Jared Ager-Foster). On the family’s kayak trip, they will have to learn to navigate the waters, while searching for ways to cope with the loss of their loved one. Can the family work together to survive the beautiful but dangerous trip and still make it on time to save their indigenous homeland waters? Produced by Sheryl Kotzer and Daniel Bekerman from Scythia Films, the leading Canadian service producer, ‘Kayak to Klemtu’ is about more than family, ethnic loyalties, and the loss of a loved one, but rather, a film deeply rooted in humanity, which spotlights the possible catastrophic effects that could occur on any part of our world’s coastlines and waterways. ‘Kayak to Klemtu’ had its world premiere on Oct. 20th at the 2017 TIFF Bell Lightbox. Since, the film has successfully competed in several film festivals, including Cine Las Americas, Powel River Film Festival, imagineNative Film + Media Arts Festival (2017), receiving the Audience Choice Award, and Victoria Film Festival Canada (2008), where the film departed with the Festival Prize for Best Canadian First Feature. TriCoast Worldwide CEOs, Strathford Hamilton and Marcy Levitas Hamilton will represent Hopkins’ ‘Kayak to Klemtu’ at this year’s Cannes Film Festival for worldwide rights, excluding Canada. ‘Kayak to Klemtu’ stars several Canadian-native and award winning actors, including Evan Adams (‘Lost in the Barrens’, ‘Smoke Signals’), Jared Ager Foster (‘Horns’, ‘The X-Files’, ‘Proof’), Sonja Bennett (‘The Fog’, ‘Fido’, ‘Preggoland’), Lorne Cardinal (‘Corner Gas’ ‘Insomnia’, FX’s (‘Fargo’) and Ta’kaiya Blaney (‘Savage’, ‘Shi-Shi-Etko’). https://vimeo.com/265839810
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B. Harrison Smith and Gunnar Hansen Team up for Star-Studded Hardcore Horror ‘DEATH HOUSE’ [Trailer]

Horror legends, director B. Harrison Smith (‘Camp Dread’, ‘XK: Elephant’s Graveyard’) and past writer Gunnar Hansen the “Famed Horror Star” for ‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’, have teamed up for ‘Death House’, a hardcore horror film that follows two FBI agents, Toria Boon (Courtney Palm) and Jae Novak (Cody Longo), who are constantly plagued by bad luck. When the duo are assigned to work on an exclusive tour within a secret maximum-security prison, they observe that its inmates are organized by the nine levels of the prison, or by the intensity of their evil. Toria and Jac have experienced their fair share of evil, or at least they think, … until an EMP device detonates and sets off the prison’s power, trapping them inside the hell-filled prison, where the violent and evil monsters-like inmates are set free to roam and riot. The two vulnerable agents frantically make their way through the wicked warren of evil, fighting for their lives. Smith captures the ultimate horror and chaos with the excellent combination of old-school styled gore with action-pack sequences, taking horror-lovers on an unnerving journey through the nine levels of evil within a dark prison full of relentless screams. As each level increases it becomes more dangerous than the last. Will the two agents be at the hands of the savage, barbaric, evil criminals or will they be lucky enough to escape the ‘Death House’ prison alive? ‘Death House’ was awarded the Festival Prize Winner for Audience Choice Award and Best Feature Film at the 2017 Central Florida Film Festival. TriCoast Worldwide’s horror division, DarkCoast will represent Smith’s ‘Death House’ with a screening at this year’s 71st Cannes Film Festival from May 8th-19th, TriCoast Worldwide’s booth will be located at Riviera D3. ‘Death House’ stars iconic horror legends including Kane Hodder (‘Friday the 13th’), Dee Wallace (‘Zombie Killers’), Tony Todd (‘The Candyman’, ‘The Crow’, ‘Night of the Living Dead’), Barbara Crampton (‘Reanimator’) and Adrienne Barbeau (‘The Fog’). Alongside are the talented, Courtney Palm (‘Zombewavers’), Cody Longo (‘Piranha 3D’, ‘Nashville’), Michael Berryman (‘The Hills Have Eyes’), Bill Mosley (‘Devil’s Rejects’, ‘House of 1,000 Corpses’), Lindsay Hartley (series, ‘All My Children’, ‘The Challenger’), Sean Whalen (‘Lost’, ‘Men In Black’), Vernon Wells (‘Weird Science’), RA Mihailoff (‘Texas Chainsaw III’), Sid Haig (‘Devil’s Rejects’, ‘House of 1,000 Corpses’), Vincent Ward (‘The Walking Dead’, ‘Oceans Eleven’), Felissa Rose (‘Sleepaway Camp’, ‘Camp Dread’), Bill Oberst, Jr. (‘Scary or Die’) and Bernhard Forcher (‘Fury’). https://vimeo.com/266558218
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Tricoast Worldwide To Release Zheng Hua’s Biopic ‘EVERYDAY HERO’ in August 2018 [Trailer]

TriCoast Worldwide will bring emerging Chinese filmmaker, Zheng Hua’s biopic, ‘Everyday Hero’ to US audiences in August 2018. Produced / starring Sun Hong Tao, ‘Everyday Hero’ is a biopic exploring and honoring the true, inspiring story of Brother Guo Jian Nan, the selfless individual who left his occupation as Heavy Industries Group’s supervisor to dedicate his life as the new captain of the Poverty Alleviation Program in the developing Chinese LiTan Village, Yang Xi. As a cinematic sensation, ‘Everyday Hero’ guides viewers through Guo Jian Nan’s journey to develop infrastructure for an impoverished Chinese village. Within nearly two years, Guo Jian Nan is able to bring the LiTan Village back to life, overcoming poverty and achieving prosperity for a better reality. Along the way, he meets the heartwarming villagers of LiTan, embarking on an adventure of a lifetime that would change a village forever. “We don’t write heroes for the profusion of poverty. We write a ‘brother’. Every one of us is eager to have such warmhearted brothers around,” said Sun Hong Tao. https://vimeo.com/267348540 image via screen print..
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Neon Acquires Ali Abbasi’s BORDER Following World Premiere In Cannes

Immediately following the World Premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard, NEON acquired Border, a troll love story directed by Ali Abbasi and based on a novel by the writer of Let the Right One In, for release in the US. Border is the second feature from Iranian-born Danish director Abbasi. He co-scripted the film with Isabella Eklöf, in collaboration with novelist John Ajvide Lindqvist (Let the Right One In). The film tells the story of a border guard (Eva Melander) who has the ability to smell human emotions and catch smugglers. When she comes across a mysterious man with a smell that confounds her detection, she is forced to confront hugely disturbing insights about herself and humankind.
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Trevor Noah, Gretchen Carlson, Jason Aldean Among Subjects of New PBS DocuSeries BREAKING BIG

[caption id="attachment_29108" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Trevor Noah[/caption] Breaking Big, a 12-episode documentary series, exploring the unexpected journey to success of some of the world’s most influential artists, innovators, political leaders, athletes, authors and entrepreneurs will premiere Friday, June 15, 2018, 8:30-9:00 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide. Hosted by Carlos Watson, an Emmy(R) Award-winning journalist and co-founder and CEO of OZY.com, Breaking Big explores the twists and turns on the road to thriving careers for some notable figures in various fields. The series of 30-minute documentary films traces the unusual paths followed by 12 talented men and women – from country music superstar Jason Aldean and former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson to Oscar-winning director Lee Daniels and chef and restaurateur Eddie Huang – who overcame nearly insurmountable obstacles and long odds to reach and reimagine their own potential and, ultimately, to break big. The series will include analysis from eminent social scientists, marketing experts, film critics, book editors and others to help viewers understand the risk-taking and bold moves these journeys require. Breaking Big kicks off on June 15 with “Daily Show” star and comedian Trevor Noah as the first guest and subject. The 12 celebrities and influencers profiled in the series, in broadcast order, include: Trevor Noah – Host of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central Eddie Huang – Chef and restaurateur, author of Fresh Off the Boat Danai Gurira – Actress and Award Winning Playwright (Black Panther, Walking Dead) Jason Aldean – Country music superstar Ruth Zukerman – Co-founder of SoulCycle and Flywheel Christian Siriano – Fashion designer Roxane Gay – Author and cultural critic Michael Strahan – Host of “Good Morning, America” and former NFL star Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand – U.S. Senator, New York Lee Daniels – Academy Award-winning director, Precious and Fox series “Empire” Gretchen Carlson – Former Fox News anchor and Miss America Carmen Yulín Cruz – Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico “PBS is known as the home for compelling stories that engage and inspire,” said Marie Nelson, Vice President of News and Independent Film for PBS. “We know audiences will love Breaking Big, a series that offers a compelling look at the many roads to success, pulling back the curtain on the public figures and entertainers we admire to reveal our shared humanity.” “The paths leading up to a game-changing career are varied and rarely without setbacks and lucky breaks,” said Carlos Watson, the host of the series and co-founder and CEO of OZY.com. “The series will explore the various roads to and definitions of success, examine the qualities of people who have achieved mastery in their field and, we hope, serve as inspiration to the next generation hoping to ‘break big.'” Photo Credit: Comedy Central
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Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Nadine Labaki’s CAPERNAUM for December Awards Release

Nadine Labaki’s Capernaum which is set to premiere next Thursday at Cannes Film Festival in competition, has been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for release in North America and Latin America. Capernaum marks a return to Cannes for the Lebanese filmmaker, whose two previous films, CARAMEL and Where Do We Go Now? (winner of the Audience Award at the Toronto Film Festival) premiered at the festival, and reunites Labaki with Sony Pictures Classics, which distributed Where Do We Go Now?. Written by Labaki (Where Do We Go Now?), who also appears in the film, Capernaum tells the story of a child who rebels against the life imposed on him and launches a lawsuit against his parents. “It is wonderful to have the opportunity to collaborate once again with Sony Pictures Classics. Capernaum is very special to me, and with the passion Tom and Michael have for this film, I know this is the ideal partnership,” said Labaki. Said Sony Pictures Classics, “Nadine Labaki is one of the world’s great filmmakers. Capernaum is an emotionally profound experience about the world we live in and promises to be a triumph in Cannes. Nadine Labaki’s moment as writer-director is here and now. It is thrilling to be working with her, as well as her producer Khaled Mouzanar, Vincent Maraval and Eva Diederix at Wild Bunch, and Roeg Sutherland and CAA.” Sony Pictures Classics plans to open the film in December qualifying the movie for year-end awards consideration.
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HBO Sets Memorial Day Date for John McCain Documentary JOHN MCCAIN: FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

HBO has set the debut date for and confirmed the title – John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls – of the previously announced documentary about Senator John Sidney McCain, III. Produced and directed by six-time Emmy(R) winner Peter Kunhardt, along with Emmy(R) winners George Kunhardt and Teddy Kunhardt, the film is described as an illuminating, exclusive profile of one of the most influential forces in modern American politics. John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls will debut this Memorial Day, MONDAY, MAY 28 (8:00-9:45 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO. Following more than 31 years of public service, the six-term senior Arizona senator agreed to participate in the film shortly after being diagnosed with brain cancer, providing unprecedented access to his daily life in Washington, D.C. and Sedona, Arizona. The film features interviews with family, friends, colleagues and leading political figures such as former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Senator Joe Lieberman and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Mesmerized at 12 years old by Ernest Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” Sen. McCain has used the book as a guide for his life. This sweeping account draws on his own voice, culled from original interviews, commentary and speeches, archival newsreel and television footage, and previously unseen home movies and photographs. Recounting everything from his years spent as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War to running for president, the documentary paints an important portrait of an American maverick who has never lost courage and has kept his eye on America’s most important goals. John McCain’s life is a story of triumph, defeat and resilience? – ?Six decades of, in his words, “imperfect service to my country,” in which the mistakes he made were redeemed by the risks he took and the sacrifices he made for the county he loves. “I think all of us think about death, but I think more about life,” says Sen. McCain. “There are so many days in my life that are more than coincidental. That it has made me believe that I am here for a reason. I’ve been tested on a number of occasions. I haven’t always done the right thing. And I think I understand given my family’s history and given my experiences, the important thing is not to look back and figure out all the things I should have done? – ?and there’s lots of those? – ?but to look back with gratitude. You will never talk to anyone that is as fortunate as John McCain.” McCain’s recent battle with brain cancer underscores the fighting spirit and resilience of this remarkable man, who continues to crusade for the causes he believes in, despite advancing health issues and daunting odds. Kunhardt Films’ previous HBO credits include the recent “King in the Wilderness,” the Emmy(R) winner “Jim: The James Foley Story,” the PGA nominee “The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee,” “Becoming Warren Buffett,” the Emmy(R) nominated “Nixon by Nixon: In His Own Words,” the Emmy(R) nominated “Gloria: In Her Own Words” and the Emmy(R) winner “Teddy: In His Own Words.”
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Rooftop Films Unveils Feature Films, Short Films and Programs for the 22nd Summer Series – May and June

[caption id="attachment_29006" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] 2017 Rooftop Filmmakers’ Fund Grantee Ultraviolet will screen as part of “This is What We Mean by Short Films” .
Courtesy of filmmaker Marc Johnson.[/caption] This summer, Rooftop Films will present over 100 short films in 13 programs, with each program curated thematically. On Saturday, May 19th, Rooftop Films will kick off the 2018 Summer Series in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery with This Is What We Mean By Short Films, a selection of dynamic shorts from around the world, including Rooftop Filmmakers Fund grantee The Burden. Rooftop Films will present a dozen more carefully curated programs throughout the summer, each with a specific focus or theme. Highlights of the 22nd Summer Series include two nights of documentaries (including Rooftop’s signature New York Nonfiction program); Net Positive, a program of internet-related short films co-presented with The Mozilla Foundation; two evenings of short films about unlikely romances; selected shorts from the Sundance Film Festival; two programs of animated short films; and Come and Take It, a program short films by and about bold and uncategorizable women. “Rooftop Films has championed the short film from the start,” said Dan Nuxoll, Artistic Director of Rooftop Films, “and many of the filmmakers whose shorts we have screened have gone on to create some of the most exciting independent feature films of the last twenty years. But though we are thrilled by the potential on display in the short films we will show this summer, we are equally excited by the magnificent things these filmmakers have already accomplished with these daring, perfectly constructed gems.” Every Summer Series event will include live musical performances and all ticketed screenings will have after-parties featuring Freixenet and signature drinks by Ketel One Family Made Vodka. Venues this year include Green-Wood Cemetery in Greenwood Heights, The William Vale in Williamsburg, The Old American Can Factory in Gowanus, Industry City and Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, MetroTech Commons in Downtown Brooklyn, New Design High School in the Lower East Side, and Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City.
SHORT FILM PROGRAMS
THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN BY SHORT FILMS: OPENING NIGHT Opening Night 2018! It’s a graveyard smash! The Burden (Min börda) (Niki Lindroth von Bahr – The Cutest Dog in the World (Julian Glander) – Irony (Amy Nicholson) – Julius Caesar Was Buried in a Pet Cemetery (Sam Green) – Milk and Cookies (Patrick Mulvey, Andrew Scott Ramsay) – Rebirth is Necessary (Jenn Nkiru) – So You Like the Neighborhood (Jean Pesce) – The Town I Live In (Matt Wolf, Guadalupe Rosales) – To the Dead (Mauricio Arango) – Ultraviolet (Marc Johnson) NO ESCAPE: UNCANNY MINDBENDERS The eternal return of our short film collection of eerie existential thrillers. Allen Anders – Live at the Comedy Castle (circa 1987) (Laura Moss, Tony Grayson) – Awasarn Sound Man (Death of the Soundman) (Sorayos Prapapan) – Find Fix Finish (Sylvain Cruiziat, Mila Zhluktenko) – Lance Lizardi (Xander Robin) – LaZercism (Shaka King) – Mwah (Nina Buxton) – Paco (Catalina Jordan Alvarez) – Rabbit’s Blood (Sarina Nihei) – The Tesla World Light (Tesla: lumière mondiale) (Matthew Rankin) DARK TOONS Twisted animated short films that walk you to the brink of the abyss… then push you over the edge. A Brief Spark Bookended by Darkness (Brent Green) – Born in a Void (Alex Grigg) – Call of Cuteness (Brenda Lien) – Glucose (Jeron Braxton) – JEOM (Kangmin Kim) – Negative Space (Ru Kuwahata, Max Porter) – Nachtstück (Nocturne) (Anne Breymann) – Paradise (Ton Meijdam, Thom Snels, Béla Zsigmond)- SOG (Jonathan Schwenk) – Solar Walk (Réka Bucsi) – Wednesday with Goddard (Nicolas Ménard, Manshen Lo) LOVE IS WEIRD: ROMANTIC SHORT FILMS A sweaty night of sweet loving in short film form. Dressed for Pleasure (Je fais où tu me dis) (Marie de Maricourt) – Ghosting the Party (Carlos Alberto Fernandez Lopez) – Gros Chagrin (Céline Devaux) – High Summer (Plein Été) (Josselin Facon) – Knockstrike (Rigol Genis, Anglada Pau, Torices Marc) – The Mangina Exit (Byron Brown) – My Cucumber Inside the Fridge (Austin Hamilton) – Oh Hey (Sean Pecknold) – Welcome to Bushwick (Henry Jinings) – Who’s the Daddy 你要熱烈地親親爹哋 (Wong Ping) LOVE IS SHORT (FILMS) Short films about hasty, lusty, slightly awkward encounters. The Climb (Michael Covino) – Dolls Don’t Cry (Toutes les poupées ne pleurent pas) (Frédérick Tremblay)- Garfield (Georgi Banks-Davies) – Ocean Swells (Sverre Matias Glenne) – Onion (Kandis Fay) – Perfectly Normal (Joris Debeij) – Wyrm (Christopher Winterbauer) DANGEROUS DOCUMENTARIES Short documentaries about people doing some crazy-ass shit. Graven Image (Sierra Pettengill) – Hypnodrom (Richard Wilhelmer) – The Last Honey Hunter (Ben Knight) – LOVE GOES THROUGH THE STOMACH (Neozoon) – Marfa (Greg McLeod, Myles McLeod) – My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes (Charlie Tyrell) – The Water Slide (Nathan Truesdell) NEW YORK NONFICTION Brooklyn It’s your city. Take a look. 3,000 Miles (三千哩) (Sean Wang, Breton Vivian – A Garbage Story (Olivier Bernier) – Brother K & The Uncut Truth (Billy Linker, Ben Carey)- Crosswalker (Paul Gale, Dustin Molina) Flatbush Misdemeanors (Kevin Iso, Dan Perlman) – I LIVED: Brooklyn – Deborah (Jonathan Nelson, Danielle Andersen) – Jonas Mekas: Always Beginning (Michael Sugarman) – Kayla in 1A (Travis Wood) – Libre (Anna Barsan, Iva Radivojevic) – Oh, What A Beautiful City (A City Symphony) (Lucy Walker) – The Road to Magnasanti (John Wilson) – Slice Thing (David Wanger)
ADDITIONAL SHORT FILM PROGRAMS
SUNDANCE SHORTS Highlights from Sundance 2018 include these wild, weird and wonderful short films. [O] (Mario Radev, Chiara Sgatti) – Emergency (Carey Williams) – The Fisherman (El pescador) (Ana A. Alpizar) Great Choice (Robin Comisar) – Volte (Monika Kotecka, Karolina Poryzal) – War Paint (Katrelle N. Kindred) -– More titles to be announced soon! COME AND TAKE IT Unbecoming short films by and about bold women. Call of the Wild (Neozoon) – Le Clitoris (Lori Malépart-Traversy) – Come & Take It (Ellen Spiro, PJ Raval) – Hair Wolf (Mariama Diallo) – Hercules (Lisa Duva) – Into My Life (Ivana Hucíková, Sarah Keeling, Grace Remington) – Normal Appearances (Penny Lane) – Slap Happy (Madeleine Sims-Fewer, Dusty Mancinelli) ROOFTOP SHOTS: CLOSING NIGHT All good things must end before they begin again. Closing Night! A Night At The Garden (Marshall Curry) – The Fall of Lenin (Svitlana Shymko) – Fauve (Jérémy Comte) – How to Live with Regret (John Wilson) – I Was In Your Blood (Joseph Sackett) – Managed Retreat (Nathan Kensinger) – Mother’s Day (Elizabeth Lo, R.J. Lozada) – Ugly (Nikita Diakur)
ADDITIONAL SHORT FILMS AND SHORT FILMS BEFORE FEATURES:
160 Characters (Victoria Mapplebeck) – Centauro (Nicolás Suárez) – Fire Mouth (Boca de Fogo) (Luciano Pérez Fernández) – Gokurōsama (ご苦労様) (Aurore Gal, Clémentine Frère, Yukiko Meignien, Anna Mertz, Robin Migliorelli, Romain Salvini) – Maude (Anna Margaret Hollyman) – Polonaise (Polonez) (Agnieszka Elbanowska) – Skybaby (Julian Glander) – Weekends (Trevor Jimenez) – Symphony of a Sad Sea (Carlos Morales Mancilla) – Wave (TJ O’Grady Peyton, Benjamin Clear)
FEATURE FILM PROGRAMS FOR MAY AND JUNE
AMERICAN ANIMALS (Bart Layton) NANCY (Christina Choe) *NY Premiere *Filmmaker Christina Choe in attendance *Free Event *Recipient of the 2014 Rooftop Films and Eastern Effects Equipment Grant DAMSEL (David Zellner, Nathan Zellner) HEARTS BEAT LOUD (Brett Haley) WRESTLE (Suzannah Herbert, co-directed by Lauren Belfer) EXIT MUSIC (Cameron Mullenneaux) THE GOSPEL OF EUREKA (Michael Palmieri, Donal Mosher) EN EL SÉPTIMO DÍA (Jim McKay) FAMILY (Laura Steinel) WILD NIGHTS WITH EMILY (Madeleine Olnek)
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Felicity Jones, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Patrick Stewart, Freddie Highmore Cast in Animated Family Adventure DRAGON RIDER

[caption id="attachment_28975" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Felicity Jones[/caption] Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything), Thomas Brodie-Sangster (The Maze Runner, Love Actually), Patrick Stewart (Logan, Star Trek) and Freddie Highmore (Finding Neverland, “The Good Doctor”) will join Tomer Eshed’s Dragon Rider alongside Meera Syal (Doctor Strange), Sanjeev Bhaskar (Absolutely Anything) and Nonso Anozie (Cinderella). Based on Cornelia Funke’s bestselling novel of the same name, the animated family adventure will be produced by Constantin Film’s Martin Moszkowicz and Oliver Berben together with the co-producers Cyborn and RiseFX along with the team of Lumatic. Timeless Films is handling worldwide sales. Written by Johnny Smith (Gnomeo & Juliet), Dragon Rider trails an unlikely trio of heroes – young silver dragon Firedrake (Brodie-Sangster), Sorrel (Jones) the mountain brownie and a boy called Ben (Highmore) – as they embark on an epic adventure and battle against a vicious, dragon-killing machine called Nettlebrand (Stewart) to ﬁnd the ‘Rim of Heaven’. “Felicity, Thomas, Patrick, Freddie, Meera, Sanjeev and Nonso, are extraordinary actors whose unique voices will bring to life our wonderful animated characters. Director Tomer Eshed is creating an amazing visual world full of dragons and magical creatures and we’re delighted to be re-uniting with Constantin Film, a production and distribution powerhouse to deliver another hit animated, family film to buyers” said Timeless Films Chairman and CEO, Ralph Kamp. Constantin Film CEO Martin Moszkowicz commented: “I am thrilled to see so many great artists joining Tomer Eshed and his creative team for the next outstanding animated family film event from Constantin Film.” Timeless Films has already sealed a raft of deals worldwide on Dragon Rider and is continuing sales heading into Cannes. The film is due to be delivered Fall 2019. Jones received a best actress Oscar® nomination for her work in The Theory of Everything and starred as Jyn Erso in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and in Inferno opposite Tom Hanks. She most recently wrapped production on Mimi Leder’s On The Basis of Sex. She stars next in The Aeronauts for Amazon Studios and is attached to Universal’s upcoming Swan Lake adaptation. Brodie-Sangster is best known for his role as Sam in Love Actually and his lead roles in hit films Nanny McPhee, The Maze Runner series, “Godless” US TV Series (Netflix) and “Game of Thrones” US Drama Series (HBO). He has previously leant his voice to “Thunderbirds Are Go” alongside Rosamund Pike and as Ferb Fletcher in Disney’s “Phineas and Ferb”. Stewart is best known for his roles as Professor Xavier in the X-Men films and Captain Picard in seven seasons of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”. He has previously leant his voice in TBS’ “American Dad!”. Highmore received a best actor Golden Globe nomination for his work in ABC’s “The Good Doctor” and has starred in Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and “Bates Motel”. Syal received a BAFTA® nomination for her work in “The Kumars at No. 42” and has appeared in countless film and television projects including Paddington 2, “Riviera”, “Doctor Strange” and “Doctor Who”. She most recently wrapped production on Disney’s Patrick. Bhaskar received a BAFTA® nomination, A Peabody and Two International EMMYs for “The Kumars At No 42”, a series he created, wrote and starred in and has appeared in Paddington 2, Arthur Christmas and Absolutely Anything opposite Simon Pegg and Kate Beckinsale. Anozie has appeared in Liam Neeson starrer The Grey, Cinderella and Conan the Barbarian and is currently in production on Disney’s long-awaited Artemis Fowl opposite Judi Dench. Timeless Films most recently distributed Monster Family and Rock Dog from Academy Award® winning writer/director Ash Brannon. Previous titles have included Dennis Gansel’s Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver, which Warner Brothers released in Germany over the Easter Weekend.
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Magnolia Pictures Acquires LOVE, GILDA, Documentary on Comedian Gilda Radner, for a 2018 Release

[caption id="attachment_26877" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Love, Gilda[/caption] Magnolia Pictures has acquired the documentary, Love, Gilda, director Lisa D’Apolito’s touching tribute to comedic trailblazer Gilda Radner and her enduring cultural impact for a planned 2018 theatrical release. Love, Gilda, which world premiered as the Opening Night Selection of the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, uses rare personal recordings and journal entries to tell Radner’s story in her own voice. Along with interviews from those closest to her, including her brother Michael Radner and Saturday Night Live alumni Chevy Chase, Lorne Michaels, Alan Zweibel, Laraine Newman and Martin Short, Gilda’s writings are read by modern-day comedians inspired by her including Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Cecily Strong. Love, Gilda opens a unique window into the honest and whimsical world of beloved performer Gilda Radner, whose greatest role was sharing her story. Working with the Radner estate, D’Apolito unearthed a collection of diaries and personal audio and videotapes documenting her childhood, her comedy career, her relationships and ultimately, her struggles with cancer. This never-before-seen-or-heard footage and journal entries form the narrative spine of the documentary, allowing Gilda to tell her own story – through laughter and sometimes tears. “Love, Gilda is a beautiful tribute to an incandescent spirit,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “Lisa D’Apolito has crafted an incredibly moving, inspirational look at a groundbreaking comedian.” “I am honored that Love, Gilda has been acquired by such a prestigious company as Magnolia Pictures,” said D’Apolito. “I am excited by their passion and commitment to bringing Gilda’s story to the public and I am happy the film has a home along with some of my favorite films past and present.” Directed by Lisa D’Apolito, Love, Gilda is produced by D’Apolito, Bronwyn Berry, Meryl Goldsmith, and James Tumminia. Executive producers are Edie Baskin, Christopher Clements, Amy Entelis, Julie Goldman, Meryl Goldsmith, Carolyn Hepburn, Courtney Sexton, Alan Zweibel, and Robin Zweibel. Associate producers are Griffin Lichtenson and Nina Guzman. CNN Films, which began collaboration with D’Apolito more than a year ago, retains North American broadcast rights to the film.
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See New Trailer + Poster for Islamist Terrorism Documentary PATH OF BLOOD

Here is the first trailer and official poster for Jonathan Hacker ‘s Path of Blood which depicts Islamist terrorism as it has never been seen before. The documentary is drawn from a hoard of jihadi home-movie footage that was captured by Saudi security services. A powerful and sometimes shocking cinematic experience, Path of Blood reveals how brainwashed youths, fuelled by idealism and the misguided pursuit of adventure, can descend into madness and carnage. The raw, unvarnished footage, to which the filmmakers negotiated exclusive access, captures young thrill-seekers at a jihadi “boot camp” deep in the Saudi desert, having signed on to overthrow the Saudi government. They plot to detonate car bombs in downtown Riyadh, become embroiled in a game of cat-and-mouse with government forces and, as their plans unravel, resort to ever more brutal tactics. Path of Blood will open theatrically on Friday, July 13 at the IFC CENTER in New York and Friday, July 20 at the LAEMMLE MUSIC HALL in Los Angeles with a national release to follow.
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Documentary on Nigerian School Girls in the Year After Their May 2017 Release from Captivity, To Debut This Fall on HBO

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the release of 82 of the 276 Nigerian school girls who were kidnapped in 2014 from a school in Chibok, Northern Nigeria, and hidden in the vast Sambisa forest for three years, by Boko Haram, a violent Islamic insurgent movement. This fall, HBO Documentary Films will present the revealing film Stolen Daughters: Kidnapped by Boko Haram, telling the story of the girls’ time in captivity and following their lives over the past year. Granted exclusive access to the freed girls, who upon their release last year were taken to a secret government safe house in the capitol of Abuja, the film shows how the young women are adapting to life after their traumatic imprisonment and how the Nigerian government is handling their re-entry into society. Following a global social media campaign with the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls, featuring global celebrities such as Michelle Obama, huge pressure was brought to bear on the Nigerian Government to get the girls back. Four years later, more than 100 of the girls have been freed. Stolen Daughters: Kidnapped by Boko Haram chronicles reunions with family members they have not seen since they were kidnapped, as well as their process of coming to terms with what has happened to them. The kidnapped girls, known as “The Chibok Girls,” are required to live in a protected environment, where contact with the outside world is severely limited, although they are provided with education and counselling. As the film documents, they eventually progress to a residential, government-funded program at the American University of Nigeria. Their fate could not be more different than that of thousands of other Nigerian women and girls who have fallen prey to Boko Haram and are known as the “Forgotten Girls”. In the northeastern city of Maiduguri, which has been the site of numerous attacks by Boko Haram and remains extremely volatile, some of the “Forgotten Girls” share deeply disturbing stories of their abduction and treatment at the hands of the terrorist group? – ?and eventual escape from captivity. Their troubles haven’t ended with their escape from the Sambisa forest, however. With female suicide bombers having killed scores of people in the city, they are often treated with suspicion because of their connection to Boko Haram. “Forgotten Girls” enjoy none of the privileges afforded “The Chibok Girls.” Many live hand-to-mouth in the slums and refugee camps, abandoned by the Nigerian state, but are determined to tell their stories and move forward with their lives, despite the obstacles.
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